Estonian PZL P.7a

[NARSES2]

PZL P7a of the 1st Fighter Squadron, Estonian Air Force, Tallinn, September 1939, just prior to the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union on 28th September 1939.

Not to much to say about this kit really, it's the first ARMA Hobby kit I've built and I'm quite impressed with it, especially as it's one of their earlier efforts. It's also one of their "basic" versions of the same kit, which means it doesn't come with the full etch sheet etc, although there is a small amount of etch. Once I got around getting the interior to fit it went together very well and the issues with the interior are basically down to trying to get a flat/rectangulart floor to fit properly and correctly into what is almost a perfectly round interior. I think they tried to be a little too clever if I'm honest and for once I don't think it was me. Having said that it was no great problem and once done the rest of the kit went together extremely well. The fit of parts was positive and accurate, so what more can you really want ? I really enjoyed building it and am looking forward to the Hurricane I have from them.

Paints were from Hataka's "Polish Air Force 1939" box, which only has the 4 colours needed for Polish aircraft of the period, so no unnecessary duplicates included here just to get the box up to 6 or 8 bottles, and they were excellent. This set is one of their Red Boxes so is intended for air-brushing and thus needed a couple of extra coats as I brush paint, but it really is lovely paint to work with. (I've since used some of their Blue Boxing's intended for brush and that's just as good. Just needs fewer coats). Markings came from the kit, a couple of stencils and data placards, an RS Magister kit provided the national markings and the spares box for the numbers.

In real life the Estonian's had a varied mix of aircraft and it is not inconceivable they could have acquired a couple of PZL 7's after the Poles relegated them to second line duties, they just didn't.

So here she is :-





Waiting for her belly to be tickled









And see I do, do rigging 



I've since discovered another aircraft with a similar wing/fuselage arrangement in the stash, an Ikarus IK2, which has been moved nearer the top of the pile. 

[Wurgerman]

Lovely build and very believable. Must get one for me.

Wurgerman

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice! Baltic operators have a lot of whiffing potential!

[DogfighterZen]

That looks good, Chris! I like that combination of colors with the markings, very nice indeed!

[Old Wombat]

Very nice!


I take it that it's painted the Polish khaki, or poo-brown, or whatever it's called?

Forget I asked, I'll read the text first, next time ... maybe.

[TomZ]

Good one!

TomZ

[Tophe]

Good model and rare colours

[Dingg]

Beautiful. Dewoitine 560 & Pzl P.8 are also similar to IK-2.

[NARSES2]

I take it that it's painted the Polish khaki, or poo-brown, or whatever it's called?

And there's two versions of it as well. One for fighters and recce types and a darker one for bombers 

Beautiful. Dewoitine 560 & Pzl P.8 are also similar to IK-2.

Thank you. I knew about the Dweoitine but must admit I'd missed the P.8

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Good looking and believable!

[stevehed]

Very nice. Looking forward to the Ikarus too. Can see lots of whif potential.

[zenrat]

Nice job Chris.

[NARSES2]

Thanks gents

[comrade harps]

Cute little fella 

Very neat.

[nighthunter]

Hey Chris, that's some nice work, as always! I'm getting a 1/72 PZW PZL P.7a that I'm going to turn into an Austrian Air Force, thinking in all metal finish, or camo, as a replacement for the CR.32s.